I'm sorry! Maybe I wasn't too clear. I have no intentions of leaving my firefighter job. It is the best of all worlds to me. I just have 20 to 21 days off a month and get tired of sitting around the house. I have also enjoyed flying in the past with licensed friends and thought that I might flight instruct on the side for fun. I would rather do that than mow lawns, move people, or build fences. I wouldn't leave my job now for a regional... especially after reading the posts here. I am really looking for other alternatives that would allow me fly more sophisticated equipment in the future (possibly after a few years of instructing) without leaving my current job. I have heard of contract pilots, etc. I am just looking at all of my options. I do like the idea of buying a 152. I see a few possibilities there. Do you think I could find people to rent time from me? I would probably do it for cost just to have a "free" airplane.

I would have to have the perfect situation with the perfect job offer in order to leave my ultra stable job that I have now. My question about the flight instructor to the major was mostly out of curiousity. I remember seeing that in the past but I can't say that I have seen it recently. That would probably be the only way that I would leave my job and I don't ever expect that to happen. That's fine with me.

Thanks for your time and help. It's nice to talk to people who have been there, are there, and know answers to such things.

Fireman